Ayre k5xe^mp

[warrior-kid]

FYI, replacing an Onkyo with one of the latest Pioneer receivers has sorted out the hum issue. Still, looking forward to an upgrade to KX-R in near term.

[jima4a]

Does anyone have experience comparing the K-5xeMP to the Parasound JC2 BP? From Stereophile and some other feedback I get the Ayre is a tad warmer with slightly less air. The JC2 can be a bit analytical. Is this an accurate assessment? How much of a gain to go to the KX-5 which is a big jump in price?

[jima4a]

Well I went with the K-5xeMP! I also switched to balanced cables from my 80.3 to Parasound A-31 and to the Ayre and then to Bryston 4Bsst2. Right now I am using my Oppo 103 as both source and DAC so singled ended to the Ayre. Figuring out which DAC to get is next. Still sorting out some pops in my speakers when powering on/off with the Ayre in BP and using the Integra. I have two dedicated 20 amp circuits and the room's 15 amp circuit to chase combos with.

What has surprised me is my Kef 205/2s are digging deeper in 2 channel then ever before. I really had not anticipated that.

[Box860]

Congrats on the K-5xeMP. It is a great preamp. I'm running mine with RCA interconnects, but all the reviews I've read suggest that performance noticeably increases with balanced cables. The additional bass does not surprise me.

[jima4a]

Box860, thanks! I had read the same regarding balanced so to keep the amp gains in line I decided to switch all. Likely I am at best the same when using the 80.3 but more likely a bit less in SQ then with single ended.

[Biggar]

I have become (within the last 48hrs) an Ayre owner. I'm at the bargain basement level with a K-5xemp and a V- 5xe. Needless to say, I'm loving the experience. when I turned the on for the first time, on Wednesday, they sounded awful and my wife went nuts. I'd traded our Quad 99 and 909s in for the Ayre system. We have been a Quad household for 30 years so, the move to Ayre is a big, big deal.

After running the system for a few hours and hearing the equipment begin to settle in, my wife (and I!!) relaxed.

I must say that, at this time, I am more than pleased with my decision to buy the Ayre equipment - very pleased indeed.

[imprezap2]

Hi Biggar,

Ayre equipment needs to be switched on for a while before sounding good, last week I went to demo some Naim streamers and my friend took his CX7e-MP to compare, the first hour he was convinced that he would buy one of the streamers, but after one hour the Ayre was sounding so much better that he changed his mind completely.

Olaf

[ralf-11]

does the display only show volume, or also give the input selected, and balance?

[d_elm]

Display shows volume only. There is a light on the selected switch below the display.

[will]

Exception being "PP" for processor pass-through, if you set one up.